China, Algeria call for further development of ties, intensified co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-06 09:51

ALGIERS -- China and Algeria voiced commitment Wednesday to step up bilateral strategic and cooperative relations and called for intensified cooperation in fields such as infrastructure, energy and resource exploration.

In his meeting with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, visiting Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo called Algeria as "an important cooperation partner," noting that China highly values its strategic and cooperative relations with Algeria.

Wu Bangguo (left), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on November 5, 2008. [Xinhua]

China and Algeria are both developing countries and share common aspiration to develop their economies to improve the welfare of their peoples, said Wu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC).

He noted that China will join hands with the Algerian side to cement the bilateral cooperation in long-term and strategic perspectives.

He proposed the two nations should work closer in fields such as infrastructure construction, energy, resource exploration and establish an economic and trade cooperation zone.

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on November 5, 2008.[Xinhua]

"We should encourage our enterprises to work together on some big and important projects to improve the quality and level of the China-Algeria cooperation," Wu added.

"The Chinese government will encourage Chinese enterprises to establish business and invest in Algeria, adopt open policy on technology transfer to Algeria and launch various training programs for Algerian personnel in an effort to contribute to Algeria's economic structure adjustment and employment enlargement," the Chinese top legislator said.

Agreeing with Wu's proposal, Ouyahia said that the Algerian government has a sincere will to learn from China and boost bilateral cooperation and mutual investment to help the country's economic transformation and realize sustainable development.

The Algerian government would create bigger space and better conditions for Chinese companies to start their business in Algeria, the prime minister promised.

Wu also met with Abdelkader Bensalah, President of Algerian Council of the Nation, on Wednesday.

Wu said his visit has realized the purpose of promoting the inter-parliamentary cooperation with Algerian parliament and boosting the bilateral strategic and cooperative relations.

"We have become brothers on political issues, good partners in trade, and good friends with close coordination on world affairs," Wu recognized.

He also reaffirmed the NPC's willingness to share its experience with the Algerian Council of the Nation on issues concerning legislation and national development in an aim to boost substantial cooperation and promote friendship between the two peoples.

Bensalah highlighted that the achievement China scored in its national economic and social development is a living proof to the world of the success of the country's opening-up policy.

The Algerian Council of the Nation hopes to step up its friendly exchange and cooperation with the NPC, Bensalah said.

Algeria is the first leg of Wu's five-nation Africa tour which will also take him to Gabon, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Seychelles.

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